Antonio Conte addresses Napoli future, Italy links after Milan win
Napoli manager Antonio Conte has addressed speculation linking him to the Italian national team job while discussing his team's 2-0 win over AC Milan. The victory at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona saw Napoli climb to second place in Serie A, and the post-match press conference was dominated by questions about the manager's future.
Speaking to DAZN, Conte was asked about the possibility of taking charge of the Italian national team. While he reaffirmed his commitment to Napoli, he did not dismiss the links. "If I were the president of the federation, I would consider myself for the job, among others, for many reasons," Conte said. He added that the idea was "flattering" but emphasized his current focus. "You know very well that I have another year on my contract and that at the end of the season I will meet with the president."
Conte was keen to shift the focus to his current team's achievements, particularly praising the squad's resilience through an injury crisis. He highlighted the contributions of players like Eljif Elmas, Pasquale Mazzocchi, and new signing Beukema, who stepped up in the absence of key players like Rasmus Hojlund, Giovanni Di Lorenzo, Amir Rrahmani, David Neres, and Juan Miranda. "If we are second, we owe it to all those who made up for the absences and became consistent performers," Conte stated, adding that other teams might have faltered under similar injury pressures.
Regarding the title race, Conte adopted a realistic stance. While Napoli sit second, they trail leaders Inter Milan by seven points with seven games remaining. Conte acknowledged the challenge, stating, "It's not a question of believing or not, but of being realistic. We should never make a mistake, and Inter would have to slip up several times. Given what we see, it seems really difficult." His immediate goal is securing a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification.
Conte also provided an update on injured players, noting that Rrahmani could return this weekend or next, with Di Lorenzo, Neres, and Vergara also on the recovery path. Hojlund is recovering from a virus. The manager concluded by thanking the entire squad for their resilience during the injury crisis, emphasizing the collective effort behind their league position.
